Dalton Tingle scored 26 points but it wasn’t enough on Saturday night as the Switzerland County Pacers fell to the Milan Indians by a final score of 82-66.

The Pacer faithful braved winter weather conditions in traveling to Milan for the game, and saw Switzerland County jump out to an early 5-0 lead on a basket by Damian Breeck and a three-pointer by Tingle. After Milan responded with five straight points to tie the game, Breeck scored again and Tingle went coast to coast for a layup, and the Pacers again held a four point advantage.

Milan countered with an inside bucket from Orrin Schmidt; but Tingle responded with his second three-pointer of the period, and the Switzerland County lead was six. Schmidt scored again for the Indians, and Tingle was fouled and went to the freethrow, making one of his attempts to make the score 13-8 with 2:09 to play in the first.

Milan then caught fire offensively, scoring the quarter’s final six points — four by Schmidt and a steal and layup by Peyton Wert, and after a closely played quarter, the first eight minutes ended with the Indians in front, 14-13.

Breeck reclaimed the lead for the Pacers with a jumper as the second period got underway; but Adam Norman connected on a three-pointer for Milan to give the Indians the lead again. Patrick Stow then made two freethrows that tied the game at 17-17, and it looked as though the game was going to come down to the final seconds.

Tingle scored to give the Pacers the lead; and after a freethrow by Joel Norman, Zach Weaver scored inside off of an incredible assist by Breeck. Milan scored again; but this time Switzerland County went inside to Tyler Konkle, and the senior scored to make the score 23-20 in favor of the Pacers with 2:30 until the half.

At that point, Milan’s offense caught fire.

The Indians scored the final 13 points of the half, led by three straight three-pointers by Adam Norman, and as the halftime buzzer sounded, the Indians had broken open the game, holding a 33-23 advantage, and Switzerland County was shell shocked.

Coming out of the break, the Milan offense kept humming, as Switzerland County offense erupted for 22 points in the quarter — but Milan finished the eight minute span with 28 — and it just seemed as though Switzerland County wasn’t going to be able to slow down the Indians enough to get back into the game.

Tingle was nearly unstoppable in the third, accounting for 13 of Switzerland County’s 22 points; and Breeck continued to work his was free from being the focus of the Indian defense, scoring another six points on a field goal, a three-pointer, and a freethrow. Coby Chase hit a three-pointer in the third to round out the scoring.

Down 61-45 heading into the final stanza, Switzerland County remained hot offensively, scoring 21 points —but Milan also posted 21 points in the quarter, and the Pacers couldn’t get any closer.

In that final period, Konkle had six points on two field goals and a pair of freethrows; while Landon Wilks had five on a three-pointer and a field goal. Tingle, Stow, Dallas Snider, and Eli Martin each contributed two points on field goals, and Ben Hicks had two points on two freethrows.

The 66 points was the third largest offensive output for Switzerland County on the season, but Milan had one of those “once in a season” efforts, that the Pacers just couldn’t overcome.

Along with Tingle’s 26 points, Breeck was in double figures with 12. Konkle had eight; Wilks five; Stow four; Chase three; and Hicks, Snider, Martin, and Weaver each added two.

Schmidt led Milan with 18 points; Adam Norman had 16; Peyton Wert had 14; Damon Ward had 12; and Carsyn Ascherman made it five in double figures with 11.

Switzerland County continues on the road tonight (Thursday) as the Pacers travel to Scottsburg; and then come home on Friday and Saturday, February 8th and 9th; to entertain Shawe Memorial and Franklin County.